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Teska Carson is marketing a retail investment opportunity at Burwood East in Melbourne’s eastern suburban heartland.
The property will be auctioned on Friday, March 27 at 1pm on site.
The shop 13, 10-14 Burwood Highway, property comprises a 60 square metre retail premises utilised as a newsagency and returning $46,160 per annum on an eight year term (with an eight year option) from August 2019.
Located in the tightly held and highly sought after Burwood Heights Shopping Centre the property, trading as East Burwood Newsagency, is part of a Woolworths anchored centre with 37 shops including a Commonwealth Bank, BWS, medical, health &amp; beauty, café and food outlets.
According to Teska Carson marketing agents, Luke Bisset and Michael Taylor, the property also benefits from the Centre’s excellent exposure to both Burwood Highway and Middleborough Road, and ample on-site customer parking.
This is a superbly located property which infinitely enhances its investment credentials along with the secure eight year lease and the attraction of 37 specialty stores and the Woolworths supermarket.
These credentials have made these shops highly desirable from an investment point of view and it goes without saying that this property is likely to attract a high level of investor interest,’’ Mr Bisset said.
He said the property, zoned Commercial 1 under the City of Whitehorse Planning Scheme, also benefitted from its position within the City of Whitehorse which is home to some of Melbourne’s leading educational, medical and leisure facilities and features the largest information and communication technology precinct in Melbourne’s east. 
Located 20 kilometres east of Melbourne’s CBD the municipality covers an area of 64 square kilometres, has access to an extensive public transport system and is strategically positioned to take advantage of the Eastern Freeway and EastLink.
Mr Taylor said the local community was very well resourced and continued to attract new residents and new businesses.
This strongly growing community provides investors with confidence that demand for commercial property will also continue to grow,’’ Mr Taylor said.
He said the property’s key attributes included its prime location within a strongly trading centre, a secure eight year lease and transport links and parking. 
With good trade exposure, the property has optimistic growth prospects.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Leased retail property in Burwood East for sale: Teska Carson

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
With insolvencies at an all-time high, and the continued risk of constructing high-rise unit blocks, it is essential developers focus on the ‘missing’ middle ring, employ a sustainable business model and address imbalances in the property market, according to RiskWise Property Research CEO Doron Peleg.
This has never been more important, Mr Peleg says, as figures show building approvals, especially in Sydney, are on the increase.
According to the latest figures from the HIA, building approvals in November reached their highest level since March 2019, up by 11.8 per cent due, predominantly, to a surge in NSW. 
Figures show, in seasonally adjusted terms, building approvals for the month of November 2019 increased in NSW (+52.8 per cent), South Australia (+3.8 per cent) and Queensland (+1.0 per cent).
However,<a href="http://www.riskwiseproperty.com.au/" target="_blank"> RiskWise’s</a> Mr Peleg said an increase in approvals did not necessary bode well for the property market as indicated by the record number of developer insolvencies.
ASIC reports the number of construction businesses that went into external administration rose from 371 in the September quarter of 2018 to 514 in 2019. Meanwhile, over the 2018-19 financial year, 556 construction companies went under, 101 more than the previous financial year.
In addition, 169 NSW-based construction companies went into administration, receivership or a court-ordered shutdown in the June quarter which was the highest number since the September quarter in 2015.
According to CreditorWatch, the construction sector also topped the list for recovery court actions Australia-wide and in NSW, court actions for recovery in the third quarter of 2019 were 35 per cent higher than the comparable quarter of 2018.
Mr Peleg said there had already been numerous cases of lots approved for development and subsequently sold at a loss, especially in light of the construction defect reports. 
“And if you are losing 20 per cent, you are lucky. We are really talking about millions of dollars,” he said.
“The point is developers are at risk of insolvencies and this means they need to mitigate this risk by ensuring they have a sustainable business model, focus on the ‘missing’ middle ring and address imbalances in the property market.
“Focusing on the missing middle is by far more of a solution than taking the risk of off-the-plan high-rise development.”
Mr Peleg said population growth, job creation, improving economies and good infrastructure that Sydney and Melbourne were experiencing would draw people to these cities and, therefore, increase demand for property, with population forecasters expecting both to hit the eight million mark by 2050.
In addition, he said in the current environment of already high prices it would be more difficult for owner-occupiers to compete with property investors, especially given the current environment of low interest rates and low out-of-pocket expenses.  
“We expect to see investors increase their activity in the market as it is currently well below peak and this will put further pressure on dwelling prices and housing affordability,” he said. 
“But it must be remembered that family suitable units in the middle rings are more attractive to owner-occupiers looking for larger floor space, lower price per square metre and smaller unit blocks. These are, effectively an alternative dwelling to houses, which are, in many areas, unaffordable.
“These imbalances in the market cannot be resolved without a strategic solution and co-ordinated plan by all levels of government.
“In the meantime, what it means for developers is they should be focused on developing the middle rings with family-suitable accommodation close to transport hubs and schools. There are actually many areas that have a great potential and carry a low risk, it is only a matter of business strategy and proper risk management practices.”
DORON PELEG is the CEO of Riskwise
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The missing middle should be developer focus: RiskWise's Doron Peleg

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Dior has lodged its final plans for refurbishment at prominent historic site in Sydney's CBD.
A Sydney Dior store's <a href="https://cdn.online.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/dasearch/onexhibition/1464238-12050077.PDF" target="_blank">final plans for renovation</a> was lodged by senior heritage architect of Curio Projects, Susanne Magers, and director of Curio Projects, Natalie Vinton, to the City of Sydney Council on January 24, 2020. 
The Castlereagh Street and King Street property projected a total of $9,977,277 for its refurbishment with Curio Projects.
"The site is located in the vicinity of a number of local and state heritage listed buildings," reports Curio Projects. Consequently, Christian Dior Australia had commissioned Curio Projects to prepare its Heritage Impact Statement in support of its Development Application to the council for permission to make internal aesthetics and structural changes. 
The 153 King Street block has a diverse history and has undergone many extensive changes.
Consequently, Curio Projects has expressed Dior's intentions of preserving its historic value.
In 1858, the then single-storey block was called the Carrier's Arms, which was then replaced by another hotel, named the Colonnade Hotel.
Around 1861 and by the 1870s, it was one of 13 hotels located within a 50-yard radius, making it the densest concentration of hotels in the CBD area. 
In 1880, a three-storey hotel off the same name was constructed by rapidly underwent several changes. 
By 1896, Surrey Hotel took over, licensed under Frank Underwood, and remained for the next 80 years. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/3/9/7_DIOR.jpg" alt="">
Source: <a href="https://cdn.online.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/dasearch/onexhibition/1464238-12041150.PDF" target="_blank">Curio Projects 2019, Heritage Impact Statement Dior Building prepared for Christian Dior Australia</a>
The Surrey Hotel was architecturally impacted with the construction of the Culwulla Chambers.
The owners of the Surrey Hotel's refusal to sell their property for the development of the Culwulla Chambers, resulted in the unusual shape of the building. 
According to a 1912 Daily Telegraph report, the owners "regretted the ugly corner". 
By 1928, Tooth &amp; Co owned the Surrey Hotel, who commissioned the architectural firm, Prevost, Synnot &amp; Ruwald to remodel the hotel to its present façade. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/3/9/7_Dior%20Stunted%20Growth.jpg" alt="" width="338" height="374">
Source: <a href="https://cdn.online.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/dasearch/onexhibition/1464238-12041150.PDF" target="_blank">Curio Projects 2019, Heritage Impact Statement Dior Building prepared for Christian Dior Australia</a>
<div class="page" title="Page 29">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
The State Heritage Register listing for the ‘Former Surrey Hotel including interiors’ has provided a Statement of Significance since 2012. It states: 
"Christian Dior, formerly the Surrey Hotel, is a four-storey building of Interwar Free Classical Style, located on a prominent corner block. The building has historic significance as an important building in the professional work of the noted architect Provost, for the lengthy tradition of hotel trade on this site since 1860's, and for its ability to reflect the development of King Street as a major city cross street. It has high aesthetic significance as a rare and outstanding example of a highly intact terracotta clad exterior with outstanding potential to continue in its restored state. It has social significance for its role as part of a network of purpose- built hotels which provided both a social and recreational venue, and budget accommodation in the city. It has high scientific significance for its early use of a terracotta clad exterior."
 
 
</div>
</div>
</div>
 
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Dior lodges $9.9 million proposal for refurbishment in Sydney

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Online home loans are offered by banks and lenders that do not have branch access or employ staff to meet with customers in person. 
More often than not, the trade-off is getting cheaper interest rates and paying lower ongoing fees. 
While most banks and lenders are governed by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), some online lenders are not governed by the APRA. 
Nonetheless, all online lenders must adhere to a set of guidelines by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) which means, though you won't have any in-person banking service, you will still have consumer protection rights which includes the right to make a complaint through the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA)
There are a growing number of online lenders in the Australian market, the main ones being <a href="https://www.clickloans.com.au/" target="_blank">Click Loans</a> (3.76 per cent comparison rate per annum), <a href="https://www.mebank.com.au/" target="_blank">ME Bank</a> (3.44 per cent), <a href="https://www.statecustodians.com.au/" target="_blank">State Custodians </a>(2.85 per cent)<a href="https://www.statecustodians.com.au/" target="_blank">,</a> <a href="https://www.ubank.com.au/home-loans" target="_blank">UBank</a> (2.84 per cent),<a href="https://tictoc.com.au/" target="_blank"> Tic:Toc</a> (2.8 per cent) <a href="https://australianmortgage.com/" target="_blank">Australian Mortage Marketplace (AMM)</a>, and <a href="https://www.loans.com.au/" target="_blank">loans.com.au</a> (2.8 per cent) to name a few. 
Like most home loans, online home loans require applicants to submit paperwork proving their eligibility for a loan. 
At <a href="https://www.mebank.com.au/home-loans/" target="_blank">ME Bank</a> for instance, the below are required:
1. Proof of Identity
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/3/9/5_IDENTITY.jpg" alt="">
 
Not being able to meet and greet you in person means that online lenders will need proof that who they're lending to is you. 
Applicants will need at least 100 points of ID upon application. 
ME Bank recommends, "A passport is a good start, plus a combination of your driver's licence, bank cards, Medicare card or birth certificate." 
2. Paperwork 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/3/9/business-office-entrepreneur-professional.jpg" alt="" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000;">
Not everything online is more convenient, and the paperwork required for an online home loan is a prime example. 
ME Bank required its applicants to have: 
<ul>
<li>At least three consecutive payslips;</li>
<li>A copy of your latest PAYG Summary or Notice of Assessment from the ATO; </li>
<li>Any bank statements showing other income, like Centrelink payments;</li>
<li>Your accountant's details, if you're self-employed; and </li>
<li>Evidence you've saved for a deposit. </li>
</ul>
In addition, paperwork regarding your financial position is needed because being eligible for a home loan is not solely based on how much one earns. 
This set of paperwork is necessary in assuring lenders that you can afford to repay your loan. Therefore, ME Bank also requires:
<ul>
<li>Any other loans or debts you have, like car finance or personal loans; </li>
<li>Assets in your name; and</li>
<li>An estimate of your living expenses.</li>
</ul>
Most lenders will also require you to have a clean credit report prior to approving your finance, so a copy of your cred report will also be important. 
Last but not least, the final piece of paperwork is a statement from you about the security for your loan, which in laymen terms means the home you are applying a loan for. 
You will be required to supply details in writing of the property, and include the signed contract of sale.
If you're building, you'll need a council permit and your fixed-price builders contract. 
Like most of the prior procedures, this is to assure lenders of where the money is going, and whether it is a secure investment. 
3. A Solicitor or Conveyancer
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/3/9/5_LAWYERS.jpg" alt="">
Last but not least, towards the end of the application, you will be asked to provide details of your solicitor or conveyancer. 
ME Bank explains, "Having your legal professional lined up before you're ready to apply for a loan will speed up the paperwork."
ME Bank is an online bank founded in 1994, and is owned by a group of approximately 30 Industry Super Funds. 
Around 5,000 of Australia's 11,000 mortgage brokers are accredited with ME Bank, so it is crucial that you ask your mortgage broker if they offer ME's home loans. 
Online home loans also have a selection to choose from, so it is recommended that aspiring borrowers shop around to see which is most suitable. 
State Custodians for instance offer the below:
<ul>
<li>Low Rate Home Loan; </li>
<li>Investment Home Loan;</li>
<li>Fixed Rate Home Loan; </li>
<li>Interest Only Home Loan; and</li>
<li>Low Rate Line of Credit </li>
</ul>
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What you need to know when getting an online home loan: ME Bank

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Land values across the Hunter region have generally increased since 1 July 2018. 
The NSW Acting Deputy Valuer General, Paul Chudleigh, has recently published land values for the Hunter region.
The land values reflect the property market at 1 July 2019.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/2/3/8_Hunter%20Region.jpg" alt="">
Hunter region local government areas include Cessnock, Dungog, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Singleton, and Upper Hunter.
<h2>General overview</h2>
The total land value for the Hunter region increased by 2.3 per cent between 1 July 2018 and 1 July 2019 from $23 billion to $23.6 billion.
The movement of residential land values across the region generally remained steady at one per cent. However, a slight increase (3.5 per cent) was experienced in the Upper Hunter local government area.
Overall, commercial land values in the region increased slightly by two per cent. Most land values remained steady, however Maitland local government area experienced an increase of 3.1 per cent attributed to increased demand for commercial services within Maitland’s local centers.
Industrial land values in the region increased moderately overall by 6.3 per cent. The strongest increases were experienced in Cessnock (9.9 per cent) and Maitland (9.7 per cent) where land values were impacted positively by the Hunter Expressway and improved access to Newcastle.
Rural land values experienced an overall increase of five per cent. The rural increases occurred despite ongoing drought conditions. Dungog local government area had the strongest overall increase at 7.6 per cent.
Mr Chudleigh said property sales are the most important factor considered by valuers when determining land values.
“It is important to note that land value is the value of the land only and does not include the value of a home or other structures.”
The 1 July land values have been prepared by private contract valuers with expertise in their local areas working on behalf of the Valuer General, to determine new land values across the region. Property NSW, part of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, has quality assured the land values for accuracy and consistency.
Mr Chudleigh said councils receive new land values for rating at least every three years. All councils have been issued with 1 July 2019 land values.
“Land values are one factor used by councils to calculate rates,” said Mr Chudleigh. “Changes in land value don’t always mean a change in council rates.
Each council develops a revenue policy to use when calculating rates to fund services for the community. Councils make their draft policy available for public comment.”
Landholders will receive a Notice of Valuation showing their land value before it is used by council for rating. This gives landholders time to consider their land value.
Revenue NSW will use the 1 July 19 land values to calculate land tax for the 2020 land tax year. Registered land tax clients will receive a land tax assessment from Revenue NSW from late January 2020.
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Hunter land values increased since July 2018

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The Block's Dan and Dani, who have appeared on the show for two years running, are teaming up with Tradiematepro.
They are also the founders of the Red Door Project with this latest project aiming to help builders and tradies improve processes and transparency. 
Dani said, “too many tradies who run their own business are still providing written quotes and invoices, don’t know their financials and cash-flow, or even how much time they are spending on the job."
“Those days are gone. If tradies want to thrive in this industry, they want to help educate homeowners that the cheapest quote isn't always the best – as many are still vulnerable to cowboy tradies whose costs blow out simply because they underquoted the job to get the job."
“Having systems in place will also help tradies to navigate unexpected hurdles – like the coronavirus, recent fires and floods, which have led to a 3-6 month delay in supply of joinery products, for example, and driving up the costs of some hardwood prices.”
Dan says they’re also encouraging business owners to look at workplace culture, creating incentive programs and really focusing on client needs and communication. 
Dan and Dani will be available for coaching at <a href="https://www.tradiematepro.com.au/" target="_blank" data-auth="NotApplicable">Tradiematepro</a>.
 
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The Block's Dan and Dani teaming up with Tradiematepro

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Recent disastrous <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/bushfires-1377">bushfires</a> have rebooted debate about how to (re)build in the Australian bush. Questions are being asked about <a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-building-codes-dont-expect-houses-to-be-fire-proof-and-thats-by-design-129540">building standards</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/building-standards-give-us-false-hope-theres-no-such-thing-as-a-fireproof-house-130165">whether a fire-proof home is possible</a>, the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/government-approved-bushfire-bunkers-could-help-protect-homes-lives-20200101-p53o0m">value of fire bunkers</a> when it’s too late to leave, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/before-we-rush-to-rebuild-after-fires-we-need-to-think-about-where-and-how-130049">if we should even live in the bush</a> any more.
I suggest homes and community buildings in bushfire-prone areas can be made much more fire-resistant, perhaps even fire-proof, by adopting earth-covered, off-grid structures – known as <a href="https://www.earthshipecohomes.com.au/about">Earthships</a> – as the new standard.
Built for survival
Houses sheltered by earth have a higher chance of survival in a bushfire. This is because <a href="https://inhabitat.com/this-earth-sheltered-australian-hobbit-home-stay-cozy-all-year/">earth-based constructions are non-flammable</a> (while topsoil can burn and smoulder, clayey, sandy and gravelly soil does not).
A typical Earthship design has double-glazed windows to the north to let in winter sun, while mounds of earth, pushed up to roof level, protect the south, east and west walls. Taking this a step further, an earth-covered house includes a layer of earth over the roof.
The north-facing double-glazed windows (an essential element of <a href="https://sustainability.williams.edu/green-building-basics/passive-solar-design">passive solar design</a>) is the only part of the building that needs some other protection.
<a href="https://hia.com.au/business-information/standards-regulations/building-in-bushfire-prone-areas">Bushfire building codes and standards</a> already demand that windows have extra-thick, toughened glass to resist burning debris and intense heat. Double glazing (two layers of glass separated by a small air gap) offers extra protection. In very high-risk areas, bushfire shutters are a requirement.
Although not demanded by building codes, automated sprinklers could be used to spray water on the windows. But automated systems are problematic during a bushfire when <a href="https://www.bnhcrc.com.au/news/2019/ten-years-black-saturday-what-have-we-discovered">power and water supplies are likely to fail</a>.
Independent water supplies (big water tanks) and pumps (usually petrol or diesel) are often a condition of approval for new homes in fire-prone areas. However, these are difficult to automate because of choke, throttle, ignition and refuelling issues.
Examples around Australia
Enter the Earthship. Invented by American architect <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Reynolds_(architect)">Michael Reynolds</a>, thousands have been built all over the world, often by owner-builders.
I built Australia’s first council-approved Earthship – Earthship Ironbank - in the bushfire-prone Adelaide hills. Australian examples can be found in all states, including at <a href="http://www.earthshipironbank.com.au/">Ironbank</a> in South Australia, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-30/kinglake-black-saturday-survivor-builds-earthship/9091972">Kinglake</a> in Victoria, <a href="https://www.earthshipecohomes.com.au/east-augusta-wa">East Augusta</a> and <a href="https://www.earthshipecohomes.com.au/jurien-bay-wa">Jurien Bay</a> in Western Australia, and <a href="https://www.earthshipecohomes.com.au/suburban-earthship">Narara</a> and <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/it-geek-building-dream-home-out-of-old-tyres-bottles-and-cans/">Marulan</a> in New South Wales.
Earthships have an electric pump powered by solar panels and a battery for day-to-day water supply – and to fight fires. Sprinklers can then spray water on any vulnerable areas regardless of grid failures and without needing to deal with the flammable fuel that petrol and diesel pumps require.
The standard Earthship design has another feature that could save lives. Underground pipes called earth-tubes or cooling tubes bring fresh air into the building at a nice temperature (better than outside) due to the heat-exchanging effect of the earth around the pipes. When wet fabric is placed over the end of the pipes, these can filter out bushfire smoke.
Earth-covered homes are very air-tight, which combined with the earth-tubes helps keep out smoke and reduce <a href="https://www.bushfirecrc.com/sites/default/files/managed/resource/katherine-haynes.pdf">asphyxiation risks</a>.
Another defence mechanism is the “greenhouse”, a sunroom and corridor space on the sunny north side used for passive heating and cooling, treating wastewater and growing food. Yet another layer of double glazing isolates the greenhouse from the living spaces behind it. Adding indoor sprinklers (commonplace in commercial buildings) to the greenhouse could create a “wet buffer zone” and stop embers blowing into living areas where flammable furnishings are a hazard.
An iconic Earthship feature is the tyres used to form the exterior earth walls. While empty tyres are highly flammable, in this design they are not. The tyres are filled with compacted earth and protected by a layer of earth many metres thick (inside walls are rendered). There is already <a href="https://pangeabuilders.com/earthship-buildings-are-fire-resistant-not-a-total-loss/">evidence of their fire-resistant nature</a>.
Safer for the planet too
My PhD research focused on the energy efficiency and environmental footprint of the Earthship, comparing it to other construction systems and designs.
Earth is a low-cost, readily available material. It takes very little energy to dig it up, needs no processing and minimal (if any) transport. It is difficult to think of a more sustainable, inexpensive and non-flammable material.
I found off-grid homes minimise their eco-footprint by kicking three very dirty habits: the power, water and sewage grids. “Earthy” construction methods, such as Earthship, rammed earth, mudbrick and strawbale, also have much lower environmental impacts.
Earth-covered buildings are <a href="https://www.intechopen.com/books/energy-conservation/earth-shelters-a-review-of-energy-conservation-properties-in-earth-sheltered-housing">renowned for their energy efficiency</a>. Earth insulates and has “thermal mass”, an architectural term for dense materials (e.g. concrete, brick, rammed earth, water). Thermal mass evens out temperature changes by absorbing heat when it is too hot inside and releasing heat when it is too cold inside. This means minimal heating and cooling bills.
There are a few “tricks” to getting council approval. Hire an experienced structural engineer and use a private certifier or surveyor for building rules consent as they are better equipped to certify compliance with the <a href="https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/ncc-online/About">National Construction Code</a>. The one aspect of the Earthship I couldn’t get approved was an <a href="http://www.earthshipironbank.com.au/">indoor greywater garden and toilet-flushing system</a>.
Parts of the roof are earth-covered with fire-fighting sprinklers on the roof and windows. If I was building again I’d prioritise bushfire resilience by making it fully earth-covered with fire shutters, sprinklers and a safe room.
Further study is needed to scientifically validate my proposal here. However, we already have some evidence that Earthships, with a few minor design changes, might be the most sustainable, liveable, economical, fire-resistant buildings ever conceived of.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/131291/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/martin-freney-953199">Martin Freney</a>, Lecturer in Industrial and Sustainable Design, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a>
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-earthships-could-make-rebuilding-safer-in-bushfire-zones-131291">original article</a>.
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What are Earthships and how can they help with bushfire rebuilding?

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Australia has just experienced a summer of environmental extremes. Water has played a key role. This includes prolonged drought, <a href="https://theconversation.com/weather-bureau-says-hottest-driest-year-on-record-led-to-extreme-bushfire-season-129447" target="_blank">dry soil and bushland contributing to bushfires</a>, and widespread shortages of water for agriculture and drinking supplies. Thankfully, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/21/australia-fires-has-the-rain-put-out-the-bushfires-and-could-they-flare-again" target="_blank">rain extinguished many bushfires</a> that had burned for weeks and months.
The late summer heavy rain fell in some, but not all, regions. Australia’s capital city water supplies have had different fortunes this summer. The Bureau of Meteorology “<a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/water/dashboards/#/water-storages/summary/state" target="_blank">water dashboard</a>” provides daily data.
Cities where storages are low
Five capital city water supplies dropped over summer by between 2.2% and 11.4% of their storage capacity.
<a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/water/dashboards/#/water-storages/summary/urban?location=Hobart" target="_blank">Hobart</a> has proportionally dropped the most, by 11.4 percentage points, to 59.8%. This reflects relatively small storages and the city’s dry summer with only 65mm of rain. That’s less than half the historic average.
The <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/water/dashboards/#/water-storages/summary/urban?location=Adelaide" target="_blank">Adelaide</a> storages fell by 8.4 points to 43.5%. Adelaide had a typical dry summer with 66mm. That’s close to the historic average, as the city has a Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers.
Adelaide’s water storages provided only 10% of the city’s water supply in 2018-19, with <a href="https://www.sawater.com.au/community-and-environment/our-water-and-sewerage-systems/water-sources">83% drawn from the Murray River</a>. The Commonwealth is providing nearly <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-07/drought-stimulus-sa-desalination-plant-murray-river-water-farms/11679136">A$100 million</a> for Adelaide’s desalination plant. This aims to allow upstream irrigators to grow fodder with the river water that was destined for Adelaide.
 
Perth has had another dry summer. Its catchment rivers have supplied only 44.1 gigalitres (GL) of water since April 2019. This is much lower than the <a href="https://www.watercorporation.com.au/water-supply/rainfall-and-dams/streamflow">long-term pre-1975 average of 413GL</a> over the same time period.
Perth water storages <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/water/dashboards/#/water-storages/summary/urban?location=Perth">fell by 5.7 percentage points this summer to 39.5%</a>, the lowest of all capital city supplies.
<a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/water/dashboards/#/water-storages/summary/urban?location=Canberra">Canberra</a> lost 4.6% of its water supply. The end-of-summer level of 46.5% continues a rapid decline from 100% in October 2016.
Despite the falling reserves, Canberra’s Icon Water has not imposed water restrictions. It <a href="https://www.iconwater.com.au/My-Home/Saving-Water/why-isnt-canberra-in-water-restrictions.aspx">advises</a> that the Cotter Dam was enlarged in 2013. Icon Water can also draw “top-up” water from the Murrumbidgee River.
<a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/water/dashboards/#/water-storages/summary/urban?location=Melbourne">Melbourne’s</a> supplies fell 2.2 percentage points to 61.6%.
Cities where storages rose
Three capital cities recorded water storage increases this summer.
<a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/water/dashboards/#/water-storages/summary/urban?location=Darwin">Darwin’s</a> supply was close to full as recently as April 2018. Since then it has been on a downward trend. A modest 6.4% gain over this summer’s wet season took it to 60.3%.
Darwin appears to be having its second poor wet season in a row. The city had 675mm of rain (Darwin Airport) this summer. That’s about 67% of its historic summer average of just over 1,000mm.
<a href="https://www.powerwater.com.au/about/what-we-do/water-supply/darwin-water-supply">Options canvassed for increasing Darwin water supply</a> include using Manton Dam, which was built in the 1940s but is now used for recreation.
<a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/water/dashboards/#/water-storages/summary/urban?location=Brisbane">Brisbane’s</a> southeast Queensland storages increased by 8.6 percentage points to 69.6%.
<a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/water/dashboards/#/water-storages/summary/urban?location=Sydney">Sydney’s</a> storages increased the most, by 35.7 points to 81.4%.
Sydney was distressed by its dwindling water supplies as summer approached. Storages were at 45.7% at the start of December. <a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/news/level-2-water-restrictions-to-start-across-sydney/">Level 2 water restrictions were imposed</a> from December 10.
These were the toughest summer water restrictions for an Australian capital city. All use of hoses for gardens and washing cars was banned. Many Sydneysiders struggled to keep their gardens alive, lugging around buckets and watering cans. A catchcry across Sydney was “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/24/let-your-lawn-die-five-ways-to-care-for-a-garden-in-a-drought">let your lawn die</a>”.
On February 6 2020, heavy rains started falling in coastal southeastern Australia, including Sydney and its water catchments.
The automatic weather station at Mount Boyce, near Blackheath on the edge of the Warragamba Dam catchment, recorded <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/202002/html/IDCJDW2087.202002.shtml">415mm in four days</a>. From February 6-27 Sydney’s water storages nearly doubled, from 41.7% to nearly 82%. This added more than 1 million megalitres (ML), equivalent to more than 1.5 years’ demand.
On February 6, parched catchments were adding 10ML a day to Warragamba Dam. A week later the catchment rivers had risen and many were in minor flood, adding <a href="/news">65,000ML a day</a> on February 13.
At the end of summer Sydney Water <a href="https://www.sydneywater.com.au/SW/water-the-environment/what-we-re-doing/water-restrictions/index.htm">announced</a> it was dropping level 2 restrictions.
Some parts missed out
The February rains were patchy, however. Many water-stressed parts of New South Wales were not so lucky.
Orange in the state’s Central West remained on <a href="https://www.orange.nsw.gov.au/water/">level 5 water restrictions</a> all summer. Orange Council pleaded with residents to curb water use to less than 160 litres per person per day. Residents responded by using even less, averaging <a href="https://www.orange.nsw.gov.au/water/oranges-water-supply/">126 litres a day</a> in February.
Nearby Bathurst declared <a href="https://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/396-environment/energy-sustainability/waterrestrictions">“extreme” water restrictions</a> from February 24. Its main storage, Chifley Dam, is just under 30% and also had a blue-green algae alert.
Chaffey Dam provides drinking water to the Tamworth area and sits at <a href="https://www.keywater.com.au/dam-storage-levels/">just 14.3%</a>. Over summer it received over 800ML but has to balance this inflow with environmental releases. Tamworth remains on <a href="https://yourvoice.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/town-water-supplies/water-restrictions">level 5 restrictions</a>. If Chaffey Dam drops below 10% a daily <a href="https://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/6583543/100-litre-target-to-be-set-if-chaffey-falls-to-10-per-cent/">target of 100 litres per person looms</a>.
A cause for concern is that many large NSW irrigation dams across the Murray-Darling River system remain very low for the start of autumn. For example, Burrendong Dam near Dubbo was at <a href="https://realtimedata.waternsw.com.au/">4.5% at the end of summer</a>. This dam supplies water to the city via the Macquarie River.
The Macquarie River also supplies other settlements, irrigators and industry, such as the mines at Cobar.
Flooding rains in inland Queensland are returning healthy flows to dry inland rivers such as the Barwon and the Darling. On February 25, Bourke Shire Council <a href="https://bourke.nsw.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/mr200225.pdf">announced</a> happy news that “strong flows in the Darling River” allowed the lifting of water restrictions. Bourke residents had endured water restrictions for more than 550 days.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/132669/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ian-wright-5162">Ian Wright</a>, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-reynolds-398576">Jason Reynolds</a>, Senior Lecturer in Geochemistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a>
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-city-by-city-guide-to-how-water-supplies-fared-in-australias-summer-of-extremes-132669">original article</a>.
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How water supplies fared in Australia’s summer of extremes

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For the first time in 50 years, a historic beachside residence in Bronte sold.
Phillips Pantzer Donnelley estate agents Alexander Phillips and David Tyrrell managed the sale.
The four-bedroom, two-bathroom <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-bronte-132901366" target="_blank">Bronte Road residence</a> is one of only ten properties that backs onto Bronte Park.
The strata-titled duplex sold for around $5 million according to Mr Phillips.
The 308 sqm block was previously divided into two private strata-titled homes, with 114 sqm internally in each duplex. 
The 1940s Art Deco duplex features high ceilings, original fireplace, private entries, open plan dining, a traditional verandah, north-facing gardens, and a basement laundry. 
According to Domain, 22 other four-bedroom houses in the area were recently sold. 
A similar house in the area on St Thomas Street recently sold for $4.1 million in January. 
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Historic beachside Bronte strata-titled duplex sold 

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A luxury Paradise Point oceanfront home sold for $6,750,000 on January 26, 2020. 
The three-storey <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-paradise+point-132675586" target="_blank">Ephraim Island Access home</a> was listed through Amir Prestige estate agent Alister Billingsley. 
The four-bedroom, five-bathroom house features lift access to all three floors, four ensuite rooms with either water or park views, established gardens, a manicured lawn and water features.
The kitchen on the ground level is complete with Miele appliances including a steamer, coffee machine and gas cooktop.
The open plan living and dining area transitions out through bi-fold stacker doors to the alfresco dinning area that overlooks the in-ground pool.
The 965 sqm home also has a large or third living area, a timber staircase, and a gas fireplace. 
According to Domain, 39 other four-bedroom houses in Paradise Point have recently been sold. 
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Oceanfront Paradise Point trophy home sold

Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

Joel Robinson

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

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The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Local Little Bay residents, along with buyers from premium postcodes across Sydney’s affluent Eastern Suburbs, have dominated purchases in developer-builder Urban Property Group’s first Eastern Suburbs apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a>.

The $250 million coastal project, one of the first new developments in the area in several years, has proven particularly popular with downsizers, especially those from Coogee and Bondi. One Double Bay downsizer paid $4.7 million for a four-bedroom penthouse, setting a new local apartment price record in the process.

Buyers have been attracted to the combination of coastal tranquillity, premium design and amenity-rich neighbourhood living. The walkable village setting, along with proximity to three of Sydney’s leading golf courses, New South Wales Golf Club, St Michael’s Golf Club and The Coast Golf Club, has also been a key drawcard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352689]

Built across two low-rise buildings designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hill-thalis-architecture-urban-projects-pty-ltd">Hill Thalis</a> and set along a lush, landscaped green spine, designed by leading landscape architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>, ESTE Little Bay offers a collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom residences with interiors by Richards Stanisich.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> Sales Director, Tom McIvor said the response to ESTE has been "nothing short of extraordinary."

“Buyers have been quick to recognise ESTE as a rare opportunity to invest in a coastal sanctuary that offers both seclusion and connectivity to the heart of Sydney,” McIvor said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352687]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">SRM Residential</a> Senior Director, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">Clayton Ross</a> said the local market has responded incredibly well, driven by ESTE’s exceptional location and the rarity it offers.

“We’ve seen strong interest from a variety of buyer groups, all of whom are drawn to the exclusivity and quality of the build and construction by the 4.5-star iCIRT-rated builder / developer, Urban Property Group. There’s truly nothing else like it along Sydney’s coastline.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352690]

The project also includes robust buyer protections, including Resilience Insurance’s Latent Defects Insurance, providing 10 years of structural cover, and an independent iCIRT-rating of the developer.

“The iCIRT-rating adds another layer of confidence,” Ross added. “Buyers see it as a safeguard for their investment and their lifestyle.” A highlight of ESTE’s offering is its exclusive wellness amenities, including a heated rooftop infinity pool and outdoor heated spa, a state-of-the-art Technogym fitness centre, and a sauna.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a> is topped out and is on track to complete towards the end of 2026, with residents moving in before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112343]

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